Symposium: Language Study as a Gateway to the Humanities

About This Event

A panel of three presenters from Hamilton College, Le Moyne College, and Syracuse University, respectively, will share their perspectives on how learning a new language opens doors to exploring new areas within the humanities.

Featured Guests

• Masaaki Kamiya, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the East Asian Languages and Literatures Department in Hamilton College, Clinton, NY. Masaaki earned a PhD in Linguistics from University of Maryland at College Park. He specializes in syntax and semantics. His research interests are syntax, semantics, pragmatics, gestures and language acquisition, and Japanese linguistics and pedagogy. Masaaki has been teaching Japanese language courses, Japanese linguistics, language acquisition, and languages of East Asia for more than 20 years.
• Bryan Tran earned a B.A. in French with a concentration in Adolescent Education from Le Moyne College and an M.A. in French, specializing in Pedagogy and Linguistics, from Middlebury College. He was awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student Grant to serve as an English Teaching Assistant at Hue University in Vietnam during the 2022–2023 academic year. Bryan has been a public school French teacher for four years, currently teaching seventh- and eighth-grade French in the Union-Endicott Central School District. In 2021, he was named the Kappa Delta Pi and the Association for Teacher Educators National Student Teacher of the Year. He is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive classroom while bringing French beyond the classroom through cultural experiences and community-engaged learning.
• Caleb Schwarz earned a B.A. in French with minors in Spanish and Middle East & Islamic Studies from Le Moyne College in 2024. During his time at Le Moyne, he studied abroad in Strasbourg, France and Tunis, Tunisia and was active in the World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Department as a work study and peer tutor. After graduating, Caleb worked as a case manager for Refugee and Immigrant Self-Empowerment (RISE), providing case management and employment services to refugees and SIVs in the Syracuse community. Since March 2025, he has worked for Syracuse University's English Language Institute as an International Student Advisor, carrying out administrative tasks and creating memorable experiences for international students during their time in Syracuse.